Pittsburgh City Council members are heading to Harrisburg to lobby lawmakers for help with some expensive problems.
Pittsburgh's $1 billion debt, anemic pension fund and rising city employee health care costs will dominate two days of meetings with legislators, who will hear details of Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed 2007-08 budget today.
Councilwoman Tonya Payne said she doesn't expect to return Wednesday with promises from lawmakers or additional state assistance from Rendell's budget.
That won't stop her from stumping for state assistance for the Port Authority of Allegheny County, which plans to cut 25 percent of its routes and raise fares.
"I don't know how much can be accomplished with this one visit," Payne said. "Probably more action is going to be needed beyond our visit to Harrisburg, but (mass transit) is definitely an issue I'll be talking about."
Councilman Dan Deasy, chairman of the Finance, Law and Purchasing Committee, said the trip is intended to "build bridges" with lawmakers.
"There's quite a few new members up there, and we want to make them aware of the plight we're faced with," Deasy said.
Councilman Jim Motznik said he will ask lawmakers to increase the $10 million in annual budget assistance Rendell authorized last year.
More money could help Pittsburgh pay its annual $91 million debt service and eliminate some of the long-standing workers compensation claims against the city that cost about $24 million a year. In addition, he wants to fold city workers' health care coverage into the state's system to lower contributions and co-pays.
"We'll go with one voice. If it works and the state can assist us in those three things, then that's great," Motznik said. "If not, they can still see how we've improved. It's a win-win."
City Council last traveled to Harrisburg in 2004. Council members didn't return with guarantees, but the Legislature increased the maximum occupational privilege tax in 2005 from $10 a year to $52 a year -- one item on the council's wish list.
In addition to meeting with local legislators such as Democratic state Sens. Jay Costa, of Forest Hills; Jim Ferlo, of Highland Park; and Wayne Fontana, of Brookline, council members could meet with House Speaker Dennis O'Brien, R-Philadelphia; House Majority Leader H. William DeWeese, D-Greene County; and Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow, D-Lackawanna County.
City Council budget Director Bill Urbanic said he will tout the nearly $60 million surplus the city has built this year to demonstrate how Pittsburgh has tried to fix its finances since December 2003, when Rendell declared the city financially distressed.
"The big thing is we want to give the good message that we're doing well, and $60 million in the bank sure helps out right now," Urbanic said.
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